Rockets come crashing

PORTLAND Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner (right) is fouled by Houston Rockets guard James Harden during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Oregon. AP

PORTLAND — Portland’s Evan Turner knew what he was up against James Harden.

Harden scored 40-plus points in his previous five games and was coming off consecutive triple-doubles.

Turner, charged with Harden from the start, stopped that streak and managed to slow him — a bit.

Harden finished with 38 points and the Trail Blazers snapped Houston’s six-game winning streak with a 110-101 victory on Saturday night.

“I just had to be aggressive and try to limit what he likes to do. He’s an amazing offensive player, he’s been on a hell of a run and obviously he’s the head of the snake, so I just tried to pick him up, wear him down, tire him out and not try to get any cheap fouls,” Turner said.

Harden was 13 of 35 from the field and shot 5 of 17 from three-point range, overcoming a slow first half that ended with just nine points.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said Harden is clearly on another level.